Indian Institutes of Technology

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are a network of prestigious, autonomous public engineering and technology institutions in India. Established in 1950, they are under the purview of the Ministry of Education of the Government of India and are governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961. The Act designates them as Institutes of National Importance and lays down their powers, duties, and governance framework as the country's premier institutions in the field of technology. There are currently 23 IITs functioning under this act. Each IIT operates autonomously and is linked to the others through a common council called the IIT Council, which oversees their administration. The Minister of Education serves as the ex officio chairperson of the IIT Council.